Kathmandu: Following the government's announcement of plans to create legal frameworks for marijuana cultivation, policymakers and researchers have highlighted the need to remove existing barriers first.

During a meeting of the parliamentary committee on agriculture, cooperatives, and natural resources under the House of Representatives on Friday, experts shared their insights.

Dr. Dipak Kumar Kharal, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the need to amend the Narcotic Drug Control Act, 2033, to facilitate marijuana farming. "Legal hurdles need to be erased for it. A board can be formed and fallow land utilized for marijuana farming," he suggested.

Dr. Pradip KC, Director General at the Ayurved and Alternative Medicine Department of the Health Ministry, noted that numerous studies have been conducted on marijuana in the ayurvedic field, highlighting its medicinal value.

Prof. Dr. Panna Thapa from Kathmandu University mentioned that Nepal is home to various strains of marijuana. He advocated for allowing scientific research on marijuana, pointing out its potential benefits in pain relief, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, and cancer treatment, among others. Additionally, marijuana could be used in the production of garments and cosmetics, provided it meets international standards and creates jobs for farmers.

However, Dr. Ananta Adhikari from the Mental Hospital cautioned about the negative impacts of marijuana, despite its medicinal benefits.

Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun recently announced in the budget that the government would make legal provisions for the commercial cultivation of marijuana. The Finance Minister symbolically carried the budget document in a bag made from marijuana, underscoring the potential for commercial farming of the crop.

Eknarayan Aryal, Secretary at the Home Ministry, informed the committee that a study on the types of marijuana being cultivated in different regions of the country is underway, with a report expected soon.

Former Minister Sher Bahadur Tamang stressed that commercial marijuana farming should focus on benefiting farmers. "Farmers themselves should be encouraged for it, not others or corporations," he insisted, adding that such farming could contribute significantly to the national economy.